Mother Se’May Sayer: The ARC of Time
Season 3: Episode 2: The Blackest Hole
Part Two: Adrift in Time
Prologue:
(The illusion of purpose is like entering an empty house. Staring first at the walls not happy with the colors. The flooring doesn’t produce enough energy to stir your imagination let alone still water in a lake. Oh, looking out the windows at the yard begins to excite a little as flowers to a woman which may not get her happiness all the way there, but it moves her mind to envisioning beautiful colors and scents.
Mother begins to turn her thoughts towards her many encounters with Oakli Sands. Oakli always pointed to the trappings of wealth and privilege, but she never discussed much about how those accouterments molded her thoughts of the world around her. It was always with Oakli how her family name did this or that for her. Never did she let off to Mother a feeling that Mother knew Oakli could handle her good fortune mentally.
Perhaps Mother is concerned too much about her people and their complete mental and physical well-being. This by no means will stop Mother from probing Oakli’s lifestyle. Is she happy with all the advantages she’s had in her life. Still has, and with those advantages what has they taught her about life. Does she feel she hasn’t learned something, or does Oakli feel she’s fine with her upbringing as money has shielded her from a lot of the ugliness of the world.
Mother will find out. Now Sarah did say that the SAFE ROAD project was split up. The N’TIME Project was spun off with the safety features about alerting the public of dangerous events. SAFE ROAD now is strictly about envisioning possible new adaptations of treatment protocols that immediately provides recording behavior and data to foster better help to those suffering from mental and substance use disorders.).
———————–Another Day in Time——————–
Mother Sayer: (Mother and Sarah make their way over to the offices of the SAFE ROAD Project. There is a feeling Mother has about meeting with Oakli the team leader. Mother thinks Oakli is conflicted in some way. Maybe the young lady will open up to her.). Sarah, what do you think we’re walking into today?
Sarah W. Certainty: I believe the SAFE ROAD Project will require most of your attention. If I may offer my help. I can video conference the PLAYBOY Project. Justus has many of your qualities now although they took their time in manifesting themselves. I’ll brief you on the progress. Yes I’ll be probing with precise timeline questions.
Mother Sayer: I won’t need that much time with Oakli’s team.
Sarah W. Certainty: Oh really? I’ve been around my mother long enough to know when mothers start to become concerned about their children. It’s okay. I’ll handle your son. Just do for Oakli the same for all your children. Oakli needs you. I’ve felt it too. (Sarah sees Mother brood over not having her hands in everything about The ARC, Incorporated, but Mother trusts Sarah and she relents to her suggestion.). We’ll meet back at the office.
——————–Days like today are what it’s all about——————-
(Mother enters the door of the SAFE ROAD offices and she is immediately greeted by Oakli and her team. The briefing begins with very few introductions. Oakli has integrated the two therapists on her staff. Their input, as well as all her associates, is given equal weight and perspective.
Mother notices something odd about the presentation. The team disseminates the data in easy to understand terms as they should, but the look on their faces suggest that they’re not feeling the purpose or possible widespread appeal this project supposed to have to the general public. The ‘WHY’ of the project hasn’t been answered to the satisfaction of all the associates.
If the leader doesn’t give off an understanding of what this project can do then the team will certainly not be feeling the point.).
Mother Sayer: The presentation didn’t give me a ‘charge’ at all. I didn’t feel any energy, no sparkling discharges to ground myself before I shake any hands to congratulate. Flat is not what I expected. Is there something you need? Something I can provide to change perspectives or outcomes?
Oakli: It’s me Mother. Pumping myself up every day to lead this team has drained more of whatever I got inside me for life. My gas tank has pulsated a blinking red light for some time now. I need some assistance.
Mother Sayer: That’s why I assigned the SAFE ROAD Project to you. Look, a lot of the things that we’re given in life. The things that are assigned enjoyment. It seems those things were dumped on you in your personal life without a little explaining and proper context.
Oakli: Mother, have you always had money? I mean how did you grow up? Were things in life denied to you because they couldn’t give them to you?
Mother Sayer: Let’s go over here and talk. Oakli, I want to fully understand what you’re asking me. Are you asking about what those things bought with money can bring to your life?
Oakli: When I realized I was caught in the trappings of wealth; I didn’t know how to respond. I think, no I know, I just looked around me at how the females I saw behaved and I just reacted the same way they did. How they were treated. I wasn’t certain in my mind what things mean. I wasn’t standing on dry ground. It’s like I was unsteady on my feet all the time.
Mother Sayer: Like you were ‘adrift in time’? Just a present soul in all the activities occurring around you. No one with any virtues, morals or awareness of the outside world to see you slide toward darkness without knowing why. Wealth is not instructive of any of those things, and from the feeling I’m getting from what you kind of know; money is a poor teacher.
Oakli: The last talk we had. Do you remember? You asked me about all the money that surrounded me. I couldn’t read the room. It was like I was amongst foreigners oblivious to their language. Relegated to just nodding agreement. I was adrift.
Mother Sayer: That’s the meaning of the ‘The Blackest Hole’. Let me help you understand something about being in the presence of any life altering ‘element’ such as money. For that matter it could be any ‘element’ or substance. Illicit drugs, sex, power or the unseen like influence and religion. Most people when they are around those things they relinquish their essence to it.
Oakli: I suddenly felt a different kind of energy powering up. It was a boost of zest or was it wonder. What life could be for me. I knew there was something in conflict with what’s been draining the life out of me every day.
Mother Sayer: Them switches that you unknowingly turned on to govern you. Money, influence, power aren’t so enticing now are they? They started to ‘flicker’ didn’t they?
Oakli: Yes, it was as if the power company panicked a bit. The pursuit of money, power and the like had lower rates from the power company huh? The virtues, the morals, those were billed at higher rates because they’re seldomly switched on.
Mother Sayer: You’ve been communing with the metaphysical deeply of late I see. Also know that the ‘power’ to those ‘elements’ of money, power and influence will be hard to disconnect. Perhaps it may even take you changing your address metaphorically or literally to keep the power on to the virtues. We’re going on and on and we haven’t eaten yet. Let’s order lunch for the team and continue this discussion after we eat.
—————————Feed what keeps you healthy—————————-
(The SAFE ROAD team has eaten lunch and everybody is inputting their ideas into the system for the next day. Mother and Oakli have quietly found a section of the office, not behind closed doors, where they can continue their discussion without everyone hearing personal truths.)
Mother Sayer: ‘The choices we make to what we give our energy gives us back our brightness’. I can’t remember who said that to me, but it made sense at the time and still does.
Oakli: Do I need to disconnect my lines from power and influence?
Mother Sayer: Slow down there grasshopper. Power and influence aren’t evil ‘elements’ in and of themselves. It is how they’re implemented and inflicted on others that they destroy their purpose.
Oakli: So power is useful in the right hands?
Mother Sayer: Of course. If you don’t have power or the means to direct the goodness in your heart, then the ones who have the power most of the time will use it in perverted ways that bring destruction not only to others, but to themselves as well.
Oakli: So, you still need power to do things to get things done.
Mother Sayer: I can’t tell you how many times soldiers came to me fearing rank and authority only to recount in their misconception of it. How they caused a lot of pain to others because they chose not to obtain it, power, thereby leaving it in the hands of someone more destructive.
Oakli: Yeah, start paying for the power I need and turn it on at home, metaphorically.
Mother Sayer: You’re right Oakli. I sometimes check and recheck whether the power is on when I use a lot of the contraptions humanity has created.
Oakli: Forgetting the power switch for the source of energy that really matters. The conscience, the brain, the mind and the heart are all neglected or pushed aside to focus on the ‘elements’ which can only feed our interpretation of them.
Mother Sayer: Money can’t talk back to you or sort out the issues of life and give you a pathway to understanding them. So, to be clear, there isn’t a need to disconnect your ‘source of power’, but run lines from the source of power that burns bright your light.
Oakli: I need more time to talk to you. Do you have a few more minutes to give to me?
Mother Sayer: Don’t worry about the time. Remember what I just told you? Power gives you the ability to focus on your people when they need you right?
Oakli: Great. I was told my entire life up until I came to your company as well. Fortune, fame, influence extends to those born under its cloak. I clung to that belief. Something I didn’t expect began to happen to me. I may just be superstitious, but when I turned a few light switches on during the times I felt ‘adrift’; they blew pretty quick. The sound was loud as well I will say. What’s that about?
Mother Sayer: Earlier I asked you did the lights ‘flicker’, metaphorically, at all when you turned them on or off? Let me ask you? When you had the light bulbs changed did the new lights shine brighter or about the same?
Oakli: Flicker?
Mother Sayer: Sometimes the energy in our body may overload electrical devices. Don’t be skeptical now, just go with it. Maybe the light bulb blew because it was overpowered by the darkness creeping up around you. The love of money creates many ill intentions. Maybe some of that mal-content blew off of the folks around you onto you. If you walk on a dirt road your clothes will be dusty.
Oakli: I’m picturing in my mind what you’re saying. Some mornings when I switch on the lights it seems like they take their time getting bright. The same happens when I turn them on at night. It’s more noticeable because I need the light to chase away the darkness, at the very least so I can find things in my room.
Mother Sayer: How many times have you had the light bulbs changed in your room? (Mother sees Oakli’s surprised look.).
Oakli: Several times over the past few weeks. What? What does that mean? Is there someone using wealth for evil? For misguided benefit? What?
Mother Sayer: It seems you’ve had this dilemma plaguing you for a while. Has it?
Oakli: My family is not evil! Is that what you wanted to hear?
Mother Sayer: (Mother gets up from her seat at the table and motions Oakli to stand up so she can say something to her that nobody else needs to hear.). Don’t think in your silk bra and happy G-string White privilege ass to ever speak to me in such a manner again. In different times I would’ve bitch slapped you.
I didn’t craft a roguishly void world of any accountability to humanity to put those fake smiles on your face. Nor did I drop you completely ignorant into it. Swell your chest up to me again and I will show you how a Black Mother handles a disrespectful child.
Oakli: (Oakli begins to cry.). I’m sorry. (She says exasperated.). I, I am lost. Help me make sense of. I don’t even know what to make sense of. I’m totally out of touch with reality. All I’ve been seeing of late is approaching darkness. I don’t even have any light to fight back.
Mother Sayer: First. I accept your apology. Look, the smartest choice you made all on your own is to bring your ass back the next day through my doors. That day you helped yourself more than you realized. Now, believe me. Together we will work to get your energy powered up and bring your ‘systems’ back online.
Oakli: I felt it that day. It was odd that my thoughts about what a job was for could snap my head around. When I got home for the day those feelings were still with me. When I closed my bedroom door that night and turned out the lights for the first time in a long time the brightness lingered.
I knew I tasted something different. No way was I going to clutch my pearls again and feel secure amongst the money I dam sure didn’t earn. The façade I dropped that night shattered on my floor and you know what? I left the broken pieces right there.
Mother Sayer: I hope you didn’t cut your feet on any of it. Did you sweep the pieces up yet?
Oakli: A few days later. Metaphorically.
Mother Sayer: (Mother laughs. I see her dim switch malfunctioning.). That I can relate. Wonderful feeling isn’t it? Finally receiving consequential instruction on what life surprises you with and how you should handle it. When my Father took me under his wing I was hooked on learning like the worst addict. My addiction was to sound wisdom and knowledge by the way.
Oakli: That taste of different is different isn’t it? I’m here because I crave more. Just holding onto the thought of being in this building has been enough. I need to know why? I need more from you.
Mother Sayer: Your test of character. Go on.
Oakli: When my bedroom lights started to linger I knew that ‘Blackest Hole’ began to collapse in upon itself. I took it as a sign I needed to point my car in this direction a little bit longer.
Mother Sayer: There are too many people that wouldn’t turn their backs on playing in a pigpen of wealth. Why you? You’ve played in it for years. Why is wealth not enough for you?
Oakli: Because everywhere I shopped, I mean all those stores that sparkled with glitter and glamour never stocked the items I now understood were missing from my life.
Mother Sayer: You mean purpose, compassion, the heart to help those in need regardless of how they ended up where they are. Rich folks don’t give a shit about poor people. The rich believe that tax breaks are a return on investment? America must pay for the privilege of rich people suffering amongst the ‘lowlifes’ right?
Oakli: They sure don’t call it welfare, and yes I believe if some of the ultra-wealthy my family knows if they turned their nose up any further you’d see all their boogers. Now, after I started here I noticed that although I didn’t pinpoint what I was missing I just felt it was here.
Mother Sayer: Yeah, I know. You don’t know what you don’t know right? I thank God all the time that somehow the woman that was my mother met Mr. Sayer, my father. I know my life would be different. I’ll leave it at that.
Oakli: How could you know that though?
Mother Sayer: Just one of those mysterious feelings you get. Like walking a line that has both options on either side. Just a little tilt to one side or the other and you’re stuck with your choice.
Oakli: In that case, I too thank my good fortune to go by that recruiters’ table at Columbia. I don’t know. He just looked plainly dressed with zero bling. I just knew something was pulling me to go over there. To that table.
Mother Sayer: I support small business. They’re the ones in my estimation that are looking for that hungry look and feel about people. Just like I was and still am today. I knew he could sniff out talent. Like a pro football scout that goes to JUCO (Junior colleges) schools where nobody gives the time of day.
Oakli: He glowed. What name was on his card? Ardrac Betacus, recruiter.
Mother Sayer: Ardrac Betacus. His parents were creative in naming him that’s for sure. Enough about my recruiter. Going back to your discovery of what was lacking in your life. The metaphysical hidden gem is the ‘soul’. Most if not all of humanity thinks the soul lies dormant. Frankly, that’s the way most are taught and that is how they like it.
Like the soul is only activated once the flesh dies. So not true.
Oakli: Even I know that doesn’t sound right. Isn’t the soul accessible? Like a direct reflection of the body it communes with?
Mother Sayer: There are Bible verses that says just that. Of a truth. It is. The soul is the source of your energy. Most people never realize that which is why they never direct their soul to fulfill their purpose. Food isn’t the boundless source of the body’s energy. The ‘soul’ is the bustling, divisible energy source.
People that don’t understand this just aimlessly walk around throwing off their energy out into the ether. Just wasting away without a purpose or oblivious to the need of having one.
Oakli: So how do you contain and direct the energy of the soul?
Mother Sayer: The regulator is your brain and mind. Your heart makes sure no comely or uncomely part of your body is neglected. Working together is how your body fulfills promises. When you make the whole body comply, nothing good you put your heart to is undeniable. I didn’t say some material goal.
I said something good for all of mankind is undeniable. That is something you have to figure out in time.
Oakli: What’s right and what’s wrong right?
Mother Sayer: Not to put too simply a point to it, but yes that is exactly what ‘good’ means.
Oakli: My soul is unseen, but I am seen, so my soul is seen. Is that it?
Mother Sayer: You are learning daughter. (Mother is pleased her talk with Oakli has produced much to think about.). Remarkable. A truly remarkable day. Remember this admonishment my dear. The soul speaks to you for sure, but to lock in communion you must consume its righteous council.
Be well. I hope to see you for many days to come. Yes?
Oakli: No chance you won’t. I promise you that?
Epilogue:
(It is days like today that reinforces matters of life for Mother beyond the pursuit of wealth. Oakli is a fine young lady who now must continue to realize her calling. The superficial is weighted more than compassion in this world. The world believes precious metals and remarkable ores are scarce. What about our responsibility to each other? Where does that stand in the pursuit of happiness?
Mother knows if she wanted to she could spend every hour of work pursuing connections that would lead to wealth accumulation. That pursuit Mother found is so hollow that it is a bag that keeps nothing inside of it. People is her calling. Didn’t God tell somebody that ‘They could walk through the valley of the shadow of death and fear no evil for God is with them’.
Can’t walk down the street with a bag of coins without feeling you should protect the money. Talk about irony. This is what is broadcast from the pulpit of so-called churches to broadcasts on the airwaves all over the world. More value is given to possessions than human life. Mother Sayer will focus on what matters. Not on the faults of others as she has her own faults to eliminate.
Mother focuses on enlightenment. Enlightenment answers her why? That’s why she is no longer ‘Adrift in Time’.).
